Covenant Seminary

Covenant Seminary has been awarded a $9,991,491 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help launch 𝘙𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, a major new partnership focused on recruiting, equipping, and sustaining the next generation of pastors. The Seminary will work closely in this new initiative with sister #PCAGA agencies and committees—@PCACDM, @CovenantCollege, @geneva_benefits, @pcamna, and @RUFnational—as well as @GenevaCollege, to strengthen the ecosystem of pastoral formation in the PCA and beyond. Read more: covenantseminary.edu/news/cts-recei…

Did you know? The Theological Examining Committee is the committee responsible for examining the heads of the #PCAGA's agencies and permanent committees. Three current Covenant Seminary professors have chaired this committee: Dr. Dan Doriani (1999–2000), Dr. K.J. Drake (2023–2025), and now Dr. Drew Martin (2025–). Covenant's vision of theological scholarship has always been a churchly one: theology is not an end in itself, but serves to build up the body of Christ in its ministry and mission.

Recently, Dr. Richard Joe led a group of Covenant students on a missions trip to London. The team served alongside Hounslow Town Church, a congregation reaching second-generation South Asian communities in one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the world. They participated in a Farsi Bible study with Persian contacts, joined a weekly Persian life group, visited Southall to learn about ministry among Sikhs, and much more! We're grateful for this opportunity our students had to show and tell the gospel. 🌍

Vol. 52, No. 1 of 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘣𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘯 is here! Dive into 200+ pages of biblical and theological insight, including a special section from the 2025 meeting of @etsjets with contributions from David Dockery, Malcolm Yarnell (@MusingsOnChrist), and Jack Collins. Plus, browse additional feature articles, short studies, book reviews, and more! Get your copy or subscribe to the journal to help us sustain resources for theological formation like this one for the next generation. Link: covenantseminary.edu/presbyterion

Covenant Seminary is pleased to announce the promotions of two faculty members from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor as of July 1, 2026. Dr. Suzanne Bates has been promoted to Associate Professor of Counseling. Dr. Jessie Swigart has been promoted to Associate Professor of Educational Ministries while continuing as Dean of Academic Administration. 📰: covenantseminary.edu/news/drs-bates…

Registration for Fall Preview Days is now open! 🚨 We host events throughout the year to give prospective students a chance to see what it looks like to study at Covenant. If you're thinking about pastoral ministry, counseling, or other church work, don't miss this fall's previews: • MAC Preview Day: Sept. 23 • MDiv + Theology Preview Day: Oct. 14 • @RUFnational Intern Preview Weekend: Nov. 13–14 Learn more/sign up: covsem.co/previewdays

"For me, the main thing about Covenant is very simple: We’re an orthodox, evangelical, Presbyterian, convictional school for future pastors in Reformed denominations. I align with that mission, and I like the people I work with. It’s a blessing to know and serve with them." Our own @dandoriani has been "around the block" since arriving at Covenant Seminary as a professor in 1991—from teaching to administrative roles to interim pastorates and back again. Go a little deeper into Dr. Doriani's story in this profile from 𝘊𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵 magazine: covenantseminary.edu/stories/dr-dan…

A look back on our time at #PCAGA. It was a joy to connect with friends in our denomination and to extend the welcome of God as he has welcomed us in Christ.

Covenant Theological Seminary's campus will be closed today, July 3, in observance of Independence Day on July 4. (Photo from 2010)

Covenant Theological Seminary said goodbye to a dear friend and beloved leader this week as Dr. Paul D. Kooistra, the third President of the Seminary (1985–1994), went to be with the Lord on July 1, 2026, after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 83 years old. The entire Seminary community grieves with Dr. Kooistra’s family and our denomination at the loss of this faithful servant of God, yet we rejoice as well that he is now face to face with the Savior whom he loved so much. Read more: covenantseminary.edu/news/rememberi…

Missed us at #TGCW26? A limited number of our conference-exclusive denim caps are now available online. Get yours before the remaining stock is spoken for. Check it out: covenantseminary.edu/store/p/denim-…

#CovenantInFocus: Dr. W. Brian Aucker, Professor of Old Testament Dr. Aucker worked as a nuclear medicine and MRI technologist before pursuing an MDiv, serving as a pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in St. Louis, and then as a Bible teacher at Westminster Christian Academy. He returned to Covenant Seminary as a faculty member in 2007. His passion in teaching is to help students grow in grace by more faithfully interpreting the Historical Books of the Old Testament as literature, history, and theology. He holds a BA from McDaniel College, an MDiv from Covenant Seminary, and a PhD from the University of Edinburgh. Dr. Aucker is married to Pam, and they have three married children and several grandchildren. 🖇️: covenantseminary.edu/brian-aucker

@RaeWhitlock Love this! 🙌

Happy weekend after #PCAGA. @CovSeminary

A world less open to Christianity presents many challenges for believers, yet our calling to evangelize remains the same as always. How can we share our faith effectively in such a time as this? Theologian, author, and apologist @gavinortlund (MDiv '09) shares some encouragements toward this end in this article from 𝘊𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵 magazine (originally published in fall 2024). Link: covenantseminary.edu/theology/shari…

In his report to the #PCAGA, @DrThomasGibbs reminded us that part of the vital work of ministry is to raise up the next generation of pastors and leaders. One of the many pastors doing that work is Simon Stokes (MDiv, MAC '13), Lead Pastor at Church of the Good Shepherd and a former @RUFnational campus minister. Simon was encouraged into ministry by his own campus minister, Jeremy Jones (MDiv '96). Simon has now helped several other young men discern a call to ministry—including Isaac Jones, Jeremy’s son. It’s this cycle of formation that allows us to see how Christ is building his church in real time. The responsibility to identify and raise up the next generation is a holy calling of the whole church, together. We hope you will partner with us in this sacred task.

Covenant Seminary will launch a brand new Doctor of Ministry (DMin) cohort in January 2027: 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲. Led by Dr. Brad Matthews and Mark McElmurry, this cohort will cultivate spiritually formative practices for church leaders and examine how those practices impact pastoral care and leadership. Registration is now open. Learn more: covenantseminary.edu/dmin #PCAGA

Covenant Theological Seminary presented its report to the Assembly. The Assembly approved all recommendations from the committee, with item 9 being declared moot by reference to previous action. #pcaga

Covenant Theological Seminary is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Cameron Clausing to the Seminary’s Systematic Theology faculty beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year. Dr. Clausing is currently Lecturer in Applied Theology and Missional Engagement and Academic Dean at Christ College in Sydney, Australia, where he has taught since 2021. He has also served as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Theology at @CovenantCollege; Assistant Pastor at Parish Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee; and as an @mtwglobal missionary in Colombia. A recognized expert on Herman Bavinck, Dr. Clausing is particularly interested in how theology and ethics relate to the life and mission of the church. He is the autor of a book on Bavinck with Oxford University Press and a translator and co-editor of two Bavinck volumes. Read more: covenantseminary.edu/news/dr-camero… #PCAGA

We're thrilled to be in Louisville for #PCAGA! Come visit us in the exhibit hall this week to get your free Covenant Seminary vintage mug and let us extend the gift of God's welcome to you.